ss of rock and forest that rolls north from the Lake of Shadows toward Hudson Bay. This rugged belt, which extends from Ottawa River to the fertile prairie, had until very recent days been regarde

ourage the intrusion of adventurous settlers into their fur preserves. At last, however, the discovery that t

ers, up rapids, and a few slacker reaches, since early morning. A fine drizzle obscured their view, but so far as they could see, the prospect was far from cheerful. Ahead, stony ledges broke the froth-streaked surface of the flood; the pines were green by the waterside, growing with v

upper?" Andrew asked as they

n camp not far ahead, and if we can

and arranging a shelter for the night is a tiresome busin

n. I suppose Mappin's

e river is available it pays to cut out the worst of the portages. Packing ore over a mile or tw

fur-trade traverse, and when it's finished we'll put wagons

, if you get it done at a reaso

deal of work to Mappin. Ever since we lef

nable to attend to into a contra

with answering questions and seldom made a suggestion. Moreover, he had an idea that Carnally was quiet

mist ahead. It was followed by a succession of heavy crashes that might have

The camp's near by, and the boy

place they had been violently rent, for the ground was strewn with great fragments, over which a cloud of dust still floated. A group of men stood a short distance away, as if afraid to approach nearer, and their attitude suggested that somethin

ew asked the nearest man; but the tall, light-haire

dust and smoke. Their care seemed uncalled for, as the explosion had already occurred; but it was obvious th

eadache and a feeling of nausea. He could hardly see; he was losing control of his limbs; but he struggled on and, overtaking the others,

d behind to talk to one of the boys and as I didn't know what y

ed. "What knocked me and

se than others, though they're all po

he log-building, where supper was ready. Finding him a seat at the end of a long table, he handed

st the walls, littered with dirty, damp blankets and miry clothing which filled the place with a sour, unpleasant smell. The long table which ran up the middle of the one room was crowded with unkempt men, eating voraciously and talking in what Andrew presently recognized

if I were feeling fit

two desiccated apricots. This was better, and Andrew ate a little, although he suspected that

don't think I'm dainty, but t

a rock which kept the drizzle off them. Andrew brea

eclared. "Will you tell Lucien to p

had figured on our sleeping and

vens

ighted h

ident happen? The men who use it must know that the fum

if I let the man r

eckoned th

y you didn't keep the boys bac

too fine. Guess the damp and there being no wind stopped the gas

uldn't you have given them anot

reman

nows how many yards of dirt a man can move in a day and how much rock you ought to shift with a stick of giant-powder.

rd, capable of getting the most out

ances are made

n job. You have to put t

nd Andrew turn

s live in better or worse

are often quite c

bout th

h I ever struck; and you want to remember it's no fault of the cook's

men board

as a rule, an employer doesn't look for a profit on the grub; taki

an exception," said Andrew. "Why do

they ought to have. A dollar looks big after a kroner. That's my notion, but we'll see if

shoveler would get up to two-fifty, so

epeated to Andrew in emphasis, and address

the job. These blamed Dutchmen get one-fifty. The M

served, when the workman went away. "Considering what things cost in Canada, it

ired out with your Company, but I heard that he hadn't a dollar a few years ago." He p

ered in person from the fellow's greed. Andrew felt that a Company of which he was a director ought not to make a profit by trickery and oppression; but that was taking something for granted, for he had not ascertained that the Rain Bluff Company received the benefit. He must reserve the question for future consideration. Moreover, he had been struck

d keen intelligence; and that he was to be trusted. Though fond of the vernacular, his intonation

e any reason why the Company shou

ld have to let Mappin get thr

uld we do it as cheaply as he

ou ought to do the work at the contractor's prices and have a profit. He

on the whole, it ough

u mean by t

he share

said Carnally with

is pipe out bef

on. It strikes me that I'm learning things. And

ally sat a while in the tent door, watching the dark river roll by. Allinson evid